The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Travis Baumann said we fought the number two team in the district within 5 points for either team the entire afternoon. After a hard-fought victory Friday night, Big Sandy lost to the North Star 54-61. The game started at a much slower pace than the night before. The Lady Pioneers started in a press, causing a few quick turnovers by the Lady Knights. The Lady Pioneers started quickly from the get-go to get some points on board. Keira Galbavy made a nice pass to Angie Sant for two points, followed by a nice take down the middle from Jai Baumann for another two points. Galbavy had a nice post move for another two points putting the Lady Pioneers up 8-0 early. Eva Wagoner had an excellent jump shot from the corner, and Galbavy had a nice rebound and put back for another two points. North Star finally got some rhythm and put together some nice buckets as well, including hustle rebound play, a fast break layup, and a 3-pointer to put them within 2 points of the Lady Pioneers 12-10.

The 2nd started with a nice jump shot from Wagoner, followed by a 3-pointer from Yeadon. Wagoner had a nice pass to an Alex Worrall bucket, and Baumann had a great crossover to Sant for another 2 points. Sant got her 3rd foul quickly, and North Star was shooting bonus free throws early. North Star came back and took their first lead of the game, putting the Lady Pioneers down one point. Galbavy also received her 3rd foul, and North Star scored on a drive and kicked in 3 pointer, putting them on top by 5 points going into halftime.

The Lady Pioneers came out of halftime ready to play. Their tenacious defense held North Star scoreless for 4 mins, while they scored some great baskets coming from a Galbavy 3-pointer, as well as great plays by Wagoner as she scored 10 of their 15 points in the 3rd quarter. But after being scoreless for 4 minutes, North Star scores a quick 8 points in a minute and a half. After a hard-fought 3rd quarter, the Lady Pioneers find themselves only down one going into the last quarter.

Both teams grinded it out the last quarter with great efforts on the boards and fast break opportunities. The Lady Pioneers were held together with offensive plays from Yeadon, Baumann, and Sant. But North Star finished strong and beat the Lady Pioneers by 7, with a final score of 54-61.

The Lady Pioneers started the game with a turnover against Box Elder but eventually won 61-59. They quickly turned that around and took control of the 1st quarter. Big Sandy was hot from the floor, almost knocking down every shot they took. Great offensive plays came from Eva Yeadon, Eva Wagoner, and Angie Sant, with several rebounds and putbacks. Baumann had several assists to help boost her team. The Lady Bears tried to start with a press, but Big Sandy wouldn't allow them time to set up in it. The Lady Pioneers scored on several fast-break layups in a very fast-paced 1st quarter. Big Sandy ended the quarter up 9 points with a score of 25-16.

The Lady Bears came out in the 2nd quarter controlling the boards and second-chance opportunities for themselves. After a 3-pointer from Box Elder and a struggling Pioneer offense, the Lady Pioneers found themselves scoreless in the first couple of minutes and outscored 14-6 in the 2nd quarter. Wagoner got her 3rd found early, and the Lady Bears were shooting bonus free throws early for a much slower-paced 2nd quarter. The woes didn't stop the Lady Pioneers, though, getting nice drives from Baumann and Mattie Gasovda. Yeadon hit two big 3-pointers at the end of the quarter to keep the Pioneers up 1 point going into halftime with a score of 37-36.

The Lady Bears started the 2nd half with some intensity and came out aggressive on the boards again, as well as hitting a big 3-pointer. The Lady Pioneers struggled from the floor, going scoreless for almost 5 minutes and being outscored 11-0. The Lady Pioneers' defense stepped up and caused some big turnovers for the Lady Pioneers. After a big Yeadon block, a Keira Galbavy hustle play, to a couple of Sant buckets, the Lady Pioneers held to stay within 3 points going into the last stanza. Coach Baumann said, "The lady pioneers were down as many as 10 in the third quarter but never quit and battled back."

The Lady Bears struggled to take care of the ball; the Lady Pioneers took advantage of it. Galbavy finished on a nice AND1, Yeadon scored on some nice takes, and Wagoner scored on a nice rebound and putback. After aggressive back-and-forth play, Yeadon sealed the deal with a nice take and another AND1. The Lady Pioneers held off the Lady Bears with a final score of 61-59.

The Lady Pioneers shot 40% of their shots in Box Elder but dropped to 35% against North Star. Three were in double figures at Box Elder Yeadon-22. Wagoner-15, and Sant-12. Against North Star, three also made double figures, Wagoner-15, Baumann-10, and Galbavy-10